Indicator.



PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904.

No. 763,021. I

H. J. RICH.

INDICATOR.

AIPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1a, 1003.

N0 MODEL.

Patented June 21, 1904.

UNITED STATESKPATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT J. RICH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,021, dated June 21, 1904.

Application file. June 18, 1903. Serial No. 162,111. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. RICH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide an effective indicator for office use, whether of physicians, lawyers, or other professional men whose business is likely to call them from their office at times, making it necessary to leave some record of their whereabouts, the time of their return, and such other information as might be desirable for the patient or client. I have aimed to make the record very complete in the simple device made the subject of this invention, and it is adapted to indicate not only the time of return, but the present whereabouts of the proprietor, and also by the use of an eight-day clock made a part of .the indicator to enable the client or patient to judge the time he or she will have to await the return of the absent person.

The invention also includes a receptacle for orders or notes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a view of the twopart roller removed from thecasing.

A represents the face of the indicatorframe, and this is adapted to contain centrally thereof a clock-face, the works of the clock being protected by a suitable casing, which in turn is surrounded and further protected by the inclosing casing B, containing the operating parts of the indicator. Below the position of the clock-face a slot 0 is formed, through Which messages or orders may be dropped, and the presence of these orders may be noted through an opening d,'covered by a plate of glass. The orders may be withdrawn through the bottom of the receptacle,

which forms a door kept closed normally by a spring 0, also constituting the hinge upon which the door swings downwardly. The

door is provided with a button f to facilitate its opening. A tablet g,of blank paper, held by a clip h, is conveniently supported on a hook i, and this may be utilized when a message is to be left.

Above the clock I provide two slots in Z,

the upper slot serving as an opening through which is made visible the hour at which the party will return, while through the lower slot l appears information showing the present whereabouts of the party or giving such information as will enable him to be reached in case of emergency. The information ex- .posed through the upper slot is is carried upon a two-part roller m, the spindle of one of the parts-being loosely received in a socket in the other part and adapted to turn therein, as in Fig. 3. This furnishes a cylindrical surface of sufficient circumference to contain the figures necessary to make up the different hours and fractions thereof, as well as to contain such words as Busy, Soon, and Indefinite. By making the roller in two parts any combination of figures can be effected to indicate any desirable hour or fractional part thereof. Each section of the roller has a spindle extending through the side of the frame, and thus each section can be turned independently of the other. The parts of the roller are held in alinement by a short extension of the central spindle on the inner side of one roller entering a corresponding recess in the other. The second roller 11)., containing the information as to the present whereabouts of the party, is preferably made in-one piece and of cylindrical form and has secured to its periphery in. a series of lines the legend or information required, and as the roller is turned these lines are brought opposite the slot Z. The roller is hold in place removably, as shown in Fig. 2. The back of the casing is hinged at n at its upper end, and the hinged section extends downwardly to just beyond the position of the lower roller. AV-shaped slot is formed in each side wall of the casing, as at 0, terminating in rounded bearings at the apex of the wheel, and the parts out out are secured to the lower end of the-pivoted back, as at 19. When it is desired to remove or replace the roller, the back is swung out on its pivot or hinge, the roller inserted, so that its spindle fits the bottom of the V-shaped slot, after which the back is closed and fastened by a catch 1;, the inner ends of the V- shaped box being recessed, as at r, to complete the bearing for the spindle of the roller. The indicator may be adapted for desk use and supported by a folding leaf 8, pivoted to the rear of the casing.

The front of the indicator may be ornamented in any suitable manner, and the permanent indication may be in the form of silver or nickle plated tablets secured to the face or front of the device. The slots may be covered with mica or glass, so as to prevent any mutilation of the record contained on the roll.

. What I claim is -An indicator comprising a removable roller having a record upon its face, a casinginclosing said roller, said casing havinga slot in its front wall through which the record on the roller is visible and a pivoted rear Wall forming a part of the casing carrying V-shaped blocks adapted to center the spindle of the roller, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT J. RICH.

Witnesses:

F. L. MIDDLETON, EDWARD SARToN. 

